Jeff: I bought the newspaper. I haven't figured out how to pull side bar piece off the USA Today on-line site.
John: In answer to some of your questions: I don't know the names of the companies using ozone on food in the overseas markets. But, I do know that in Israel, for example, food companies are using it for post harvest decay. Insofar as costs of ozone systems vs. chlorine, I can tell you this: an ozone system can EASILY and INEXPENSIVELY, be retro-fitted in a plant. Let's say that the average cost of the ozone equipment is $200,000. The savings in safety-related, transportation, and other chlorine-related costs are offset and the quipment will probably pay for itself in 2 - 4 years. But, also realize that utility companies WILL subsidize this retro-fitting because all of the utilities are REALLY rallying behind ozone. These subsidies may come in the form of rebates, or favorable financing of the equipment. Also, compare ozone to irradiation: to install irradiation in a plant is no easy task and it costs tons of money. (It also cannot be easily retro-fitted in the plant.) Moreover, there is still huge consumer resistance to irradiation. Government cites consumer research into irradiation and says that there is little if any consumer resistance. They are not privy to the consumer research I've seen on the subject. I say that consumer resistance to irradiation will remain strong and not allow irradiation to really get off the ground in any real practical application. (Why don't you ask people in the food processing biz what they think? I have. And, that's what convinced me.) |
